Ratchet connector



D c- 20, 1966 w. 1.. BLACKBURN RATCHET CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2 2, 1965 Wa/fer L 5/ac%[7ur/f (A TTOR/V' m Dec. 20, 1966 W. L. BLACKBURN RATCHET CONNECTOR Filed March 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY a, 4

/izwzz United States Patent 3,292,567 RATCHET CONNECTOR Walter L. Blackburn, 6501 England St., Houston, Tex. 77021 Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,653 6 Claims. (Cl. 114235) The present invention relates to an improved ratchet connecting means, and more specifically to a ratchet connector capable of rapid coarse adjustment as well as heavy tension imparting means, and suitable for permanent installation on a barge deck.

The practice heretofore followed in connecting barges has been to fasten the barges together with a cable and tighten the cable by a type of turnbuckle commonly called a steamboat ratchet. Generally, extensive cable connections are used and require four ratchets, two at each end of a barge. Furthermore, long tows comprising twenty 'to thirty barges are common and the ratchets and cables must be carried out to each barge, so that much time and eifort is required to equip each barge with the heavy rigging gear. These ratchets, being loose pieces of equipment, are continually subject to theft if left on deck while not in use and can also be lost overboard.

Nonetheless, the steamboat ratchet has been used extensively for many years as a barge connector on the inland waterways of the world. Typical examples of prior uses are seen in Patents Nos. 1,231,067, 2,742,874, and 2,818,229. However, use of the device'remains a tedious process and attempts to attach ratchets to decks in a stationary manner to prevent theft or loss have resulted in ineffective control over cable tautness and unnecessary expense. In addition, earlier permanent deck installations of ratchet connectors or tying devices have not been adaptable satisfactorily to barges'of differing deck elevation and width, resulting in insecure connections in the make-up of barge trains.

The present invention is directed to an improved steamboat ratchet connector which is to be permanently fastened to a barge deck so as to prevent theft. Further, the improved ratchet connector of the present invention provides rapid coarse adjustment means for cable tension, thereby substantially decreasing the make-up time and reducing the labor involved when connecting barges.

It is, therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide a device attaining the foregoing advantages, and particularly one with increased ease of operation, efficiency and make-up time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ratchet connector wherein coarse adjustment of cable tension can be made rapidly and with little effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for permanently afiixing a combined steamboat ratchet and tension adjusting device to a barge deck and thereby prevent theft or loss.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a permanently attached ratchet connector which can be horizontally and vertical-1y maneuvered to accommodate barges of differing size and deck height.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accombarges as shown in FIGURE 1.

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panying drawings, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views and where:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view showing ratchet connectors of the present invention being utilized in pairs with cable and :deck buttons on abuttingbarges,

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the present invention,

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view, partially in section, similar to FIGURE 2, but showing details of the ratchet sleeve, and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional end view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 showing the positioning of the coarse adjusting means.

The present invention generally comprises an improved screw connector in combination with a coarse adjusting device, all of which -are permanently, yet adjustably, attached together and to a vessel deck mounting means.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, the reference numeral 7 generally refers 'to the improved ratchet connector wherein a steamboat ratchet .8 and a channel bar 11 interconnected therewith are shown connected by a pivotal connecting means, here shown as a U bolt 12 and a doubler plate 13 to the vessel 16 deck on one end, and to a cable 14 on the other end. The cable is utilized .to tie barges 16 and 17 together in a conventional manner, as by wrapping the cable around deck buttons 15. As will become apparent hereinafter,

adjustment ofthe ratchet within the channel bar 11 and operation of the ratchet 10 by lever or handle 9 will apply tension to the cable 14 and draw the barges 16 and 17 tightly together. FIGURE 1 also illustrates an arrangement of the components just described operating from barge 17, for two sets of connectors are used at each corner of a barge when a train is made up, thus resulting in four sets of connectors at eachcoupling along the train.

With further reference to FIGURE 1, the barge 17 is shown with greater elevation and width than that of barge deck 16, thus causing channel member 11 to pivot vertically as wellas horizontally on U bolt 12. Such pivoting demonstrates the adaptability of the present ratchet connector to barges of differing deck heights, widths, or loadmg.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, a detailed side view is shown. The channel bar 11 has a cut-out 19 on both of its side walls wherein such cut-outs have a plurality of slots or notches 21 to abuttably engage a transverse stud 20 mounted on a screw member 22. The screw member 22threadably engages the ratchet sleeve 10 of the ratchet or screw connector 8. Also engaging the ratchet sleeve threadably is screw member 23 to which is connected cable 14 in any conventional manner, for joining the Screw members '22 and 23have opposite threads so that rotation of ratchet sleeve 10 by lever 9 will cause the exposed ends of members 22 and 23, by screwing action, to move inwardly or outwardly at the same time as in a conventional turnbuckle. Advantageously, the channel bar 11 has a series of crossplates 24 welded, cast, or otherwise permanently attached, to both sides of the channel bar to block removal of the ratchet sleeve and screws by turning and lifting action. A bail 25 permanently afiixed to both ends of the stud 20 accomplishes the same result and further assists in adjustment, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

The ratchet sleeve 10 must be of sufiicient length to permit the transverse stud 20 to engage all notches 21 of the channel member 11 and at the same time allow tightening of the ratchet 8. For this reason, the ratchet handle 9 may be attached at one end of the sleeve, At the same time the diameter of the sleeve must fit within the channel member 11. Otherwise the present device, while workable, would be extremely lengthy. In addition, said notches must be angularly disposed on the channel member to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the transverse stud from the notches when the ratchet is tightened.

A tongue 26 extends from the channel bar with an elongate hole 27 to engage and turn upon the U bolt 12. The U bolt is then welded to a doubler plate 13 which is, in turn, welded to the barge deck 16. Use of the doubler plate 13 provides greater resistance to shear stresses placed on the U bolt and barge deck when all connections are finally made and barges are in tow. The elongate hole 27 advantageously allows a greater angular flexibility than would a circular hole when the invention is in use.

The plurality of slots or notches 21 in the sides of the channel bar 11 provides a means for making coarse adjustments of tension in the cable 14 by sliding the ratchet or screw connector 8 within the channel member 11 and thus positioning stud 20 within said slots. The need for turning and tightening action of the ratchet sleeve is thereby reduced. This means for making coarse tension adjustments is particularly accommodative of a barge connecting device permanently aflixed to a barge deck so as to allow rapid removal of cable slack and thereby reduce cable fitting and ratchet tightening time.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a partial side view with the ratchet sleeve cut away is shown. The screw member 22 is shown with an eye 30 formed to concentrically engage the transverse stud 20 which is welded within the eye. Any other conventional means which offers suflicient strength may be utilized to engage the screw member with the stud 20. If the bail 25 is permanently attached to the stud 20, it is not essential that the sud be welded to the eye 30, as the bail will then prevent removal and theft.

Conventionally mounted within the end of ratchet sleeve 10 is a threaded portion 31 to threadably engage screw member 22. The end of the screw member 22 within the sleeve incorporates meansto prevent complete screwable disengagement of screw member 22 from sleeve 10 such as by peening, thread staking, or spot welding. The presently preferred method is spot welding the end of screw 'member 22 and is accomplished by cutting a hole 33 in the sleeve 10, applying weld metal to the screw member 22 through such opening and then sealing the hole 33 by further welding. It is preferred that screw member 23 be fitted in a manner similar to that just described, although it is not essential.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a sectional end view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2 is shown. The transverse stud 20 rests in a notch 21 within the cut-out 19 of the sides of channel bar member 11. Adequate space is provided in the cut-out 19 to permit passage of the stud from one notch position to another. The bail 25 is welded to both ends of the stud to facilitate positioning of the stud as well as to prevent removal of the stud-ratchet combination from the channel bar.

The channel member 11 employed in the ratchet connector as has been described can be alternatively any conventional conduit or tubular member, U-shaped channel bar, or box beam.

In use, the ratchet connector is permanently secured to a barge by welding the doubler plate 13 to a barge deck 16. The channel member 11 engages the U bolt 12 by means of the hole 27 and thus may pivot horizontally as well as vertically on said U bolt. A cable 14 is then drawn around the barge deck buttons and connected in a conventional manner as by hook to the exposed end of screw member 23 of the steamboat ratchet 8 The stud on the end of the ratchet which is slidable Within the channel member, is then engaged with a notch 21 by manually lifting and pulling the bail 20. A quick coarse adjustment is thus made as slack in the cable 14'is thereby removed, and said cable is then drawn taut by tightening the ratchet 8.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the entire apparatus described can be affixed to a barge deck in a stationary manner with each component part permanently, yet adjustably, engaging another, thereby rapidly permitting necessary adjustments in tension of the tying cable.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the detail of construction and the combination, shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A ratchet device for interconnecting a barge train including:

an elongate U-shaped channel member, said member having a series of communicating spaced notches symmetrically positioned along both sides thereof,

a screw connector having two ends, the first end of said connector slidable within said channel member,

means to prevent screwable disengagement of said ends from the screw connector,

a transverse stud extending from said first end of the screw connector and selectively engaging said notches,

the second end of said connector attachable to a cable,

a plate connecting the sides of said channel to prevent slidable removal of the screw connector from said channel member,

and means for pivotally interconnecting one end of said channel to a barge.

2. The invention of claim 1 including:

a bail attached to said transverse stud extending about the channel member thereby expediting transfer of said stud from one channel notch to another while at the same time preventing removal of the screw connection from the channel member.

3. The invention of claim 1 including:

an elongate hole in the base of said channel member,

and wherein the pivotally interconnecting means includes:

a U bolt engaging said hole, and

a doubler plate afiixed to the ends of said U bolt and attachable to the deck of a barge.

4. The invention of claim 1 including:

an eye formed in said first end of the screw connector concentrically engaging the transverse stud, said stud bonded to said connector by welding.

5. A ratchet device for interconnecting a barge train including:

an elongate channel member having -a series of symmetrically positioned and interconnected notches extending along both sides thereof and inclined toward the tongue end of said channel member,

an elongate screw connector slidable within the channel member,

the screw connector including first and second screws threadedly extensible therefrom,

a transverse stud attached to the first screw, extending across the channel and selectively engaging the symmetrically positioned notches,

means retaining the screws in engagement with the connector,

a tongue extending from the channel member,

the tongue having an elongate hole therethrough,

a U bolt extending through the hole,

a doubler plate welded to both ends of the bolt and attachable to the vessel deck, 1

means for attaching a cable to the second screw,

means for rotating the screw connector, and

means for maintaining the first screw within the channel.

6. The invention of claim 5 including:

a bail attached to said transverse stud extending about the channel member thereby expediting transfer of said stud from one channel notch to another while at the same time preventing removal of the screw connector from the channel member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Sansom 114-235 Gutihans 114- 235 X Blackburn 25467 Colmer 25467 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

10 T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RATCHET DEVICE FOR INTERCONNECTING A BARGE TRAIN INCLUDING: AN ELONGATED U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A SERIES OF COMMUNICATING SPACED NOTCHES SYMMETRICALLY POSITIONED ALONG BOTH SIDES THEREOF, A SCREW CONNECTOR HAVING TWO ENDS, THE FIRST END OF SAID CONNECTOR SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID CHANNEL MEMBER, MEANS TO PREVENT SCREWABLE DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID ENDS FROM THE SCREW CONNECTOR, A TRANSVERSE STUD EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST END OF THE SCREW CONNECTOR AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID NOTCHES, 